Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-07-01

writing, heard the click-click of the tele-
graph instrument. have said that I Was
myself an operator, and, though did not
often handle the instrument, l did on this
occasion listen to the message rs it was
clicked over the wire. This is what
heard:
"Rel Creek tonight at nine, for number
twenty two "LAwRENcE'
Lawrence was my man whose territory
was the eastern end of the railroad.
In minute or SO Miss Avery handed mo
her official transcription of the message, on
a slip of paper.
"Rock Creek tonight OF nine for number
| thrty-two. "LAwnENcE
read and re-read the message as writ
ten out by my operator. Could lpossibly
be SO much out of practice as to mistake
Red for Rock and tncnty-taro for thirty
two? 1t made all the difference in the
world. There was Il Red Creek station and
also Rock Creek station, but they were
ninety miles apart; the number of thetrain,
too, was different 10 what / thought l
heard.
was ebout tired of all this misunder-
standing and check-mating. I was in dead
earnest and proposed to tackle this new
lead aad follow it for all it was worth.
Excuse me, Miss Avery" l said. u think
that there is some mistake here. Let me
| take hand"
I tapped the key, called up Lawrence
| and wired
"Red Creek tonight Mt nino, for number
Twenty-Five Is this correct? Answer"
Then paused for reply and turned in
my seat. AS did SO my eyes rested upon
very noat, but very wicked looking re-
volver, held by my fair operator about two
yards away from me. 1t was just far
enough off to render grab" impossible.
"NTiss Avery's" eyes flashed with anger
otherwise she was cool and collected as IN
| old veteran as she said:
"Don't move! You have played good
card in asking a repetition of that message,
but hold better one for The present. Let
me introduce myself. I am Jim Balls
wife, and--o dcal shot. You have spoiled
Jim's game and mine; now, for while, 1
must spoil yours. 1 will not shoot you
unless you force me to do SO. Listen! 1t
is now 4 o'clock. In one hour it will be out
Of the question for you to reach Red Creek
before O'clock. In two hours the operator
there viii! have closed his Office and gone
away, so that you cannot communicate.
During those two hours propose TO cover
you with my gun, and if in that time you
move your hands toward the "ticller" or
your pockets. or attempt to leave your scat,
will shoot you dead, SO help me God!"
I saw that was cornered, and I must
confess that felt sheepish as we'll as sore
over the turn affairs had tallon. For ten
minutes I said not word, nor did my
captor. Then as gazed upon the hand
( some woman before me and thought on how
I had actually fallen in love with her, and
! (worse thought of alp had told her SO, l
could not help smiling-a siclly smile,
perhaps.
"Its too bad, MIR. Sharpe, after NIL your
kindness to me-" laughed Mrs. Ball, "but
it is clear case Of se!f-defense, you must
admit. Two hours will soon slip by, any
way"
they were the longest two hours ever
spent.
1t was quarter past six, perhaps, when
Mrs. Ball backed toward the door Of the
Office, which, by the way, was small,
isolated building in the center of the large
yard, all the time keeping me we'll covered
with her pistol Then, quick as lightning 6,
she opened the door, slipped out and
turned the key on the outside.
rushed from MY seat and :Iied TO force the
door, but it would not give way to my re-
pcated efforts. and I was compelled to
make my escape through Il window.
1t was late in the fall, and darkness lad
already settled over everything, SO my
smart and pretty operator and erstwl:ile
sweetheart escaped.
The robberies on the Missouri Rive,
Broad Guase came to an end; but, alas fol-
my professional pride, l never caught the
cu!prits, and an afraid never told Tie
whole truth Of the sudden disappearance
OF the operator.
Seven years later business took me to {
small mining town in the far West. NTli!e
there notable crook was captured, on &C.
count Of big robbery which had involved
the rcrpetrator in murder. A night or two
after, when was III my bed sound asleep
the landlord Of the hotel came to me anG
asked if would like to see Judge Lyncl
at worl-if so, to get up at once and follow
him.
Half an hour later we were in lonely
gully outside the town, where the brilliant
!. light OF the moon revealed a strange, wcirt
scene. Instead Of being hung the prisoner
was to be shot, and he stood erect, will
his hands bound behind him ani
his feet tied together: About tifteer
PAGES a,@ay stood the firing squad OF live
! mon, with their Winchester rifles loaded
awaiting orders to fire. Perhaps fifty o.
sixty masked men were in the immediate
vicinity.
Midway between the culprit and his exc.
cu!ioners stood Judge Lynch's head man
who presently asked in a sublued tone
Gall ready?"
A dead silence was apparently taken o:
an affirmative reply, for he proceeded: